Pocketknife



Dec, 8, 1942. '.J. L.. scHADE. l

POCKET KNIFE All..

INVENTOR aco Loads Schrade WITNESSES BY l w 1 gwn/ a ATToRNEY knives.

Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES aTsT orifice POCKETKNIFE y Jacob Louis Schrade, Walden, N. Y., assignor to Schrade Cutlery Com corporation of New Yo pany,Walden, N. Y., a rk Application August 13, 1942, Serial No. 454,645 Claims. (Cl. 30-159) ="More particularly, the invention relates to a device embodied by a knife of the indicated char-v f acterrwhich checks the movement of a blade in such a manner as to enable the locking means to function for the purpose of locking the blade in the fully open position.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character mentioned which will frictionally resist movement of the blade as it reaches the limit of its opening movement, to prevent it from flying out of registry with the locking part whose function it is to automatically engage the notched tang of the blade to lock the blade in the fully open position regardless of the position in which the knife is held when the blade is released.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a pocket knife of a device which not only acts to retard or check the opening movement of a blade so that it will be locked in a fully open position, but which acts in the nature of a detent itself to aid in locking the blade in the fully open position, and which is releasable by the mere act of moving the blade out of its open position into its locked closed position.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view and part section of a pocket knife selected to illustrate the device of the present invention shown applied thereto, the blade being shown open, and the section being taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig 1 and illustrating the means and the manner in which the blade is locked in the fully open position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating the safety slide of the locking means withdrawn from the locking part or catch in order that the blade may be unlocked and then be moved from the Aopen to the closed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line y#1 -4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the knife blade detached; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spring of the checking device.

Referring now, more particularly, to theseveral views of the drawing, it will be apparent that the pocket knife includes a handle I0 embodying present instance, a single large blade I3 otally connected between the plates II by low rivet Iii at one end of the blade. I5 of the blade I3 has a back-square I6 which is the adjacent end of the back I2 serving as a stop to limit the movement of the blade I3 to a fully open position, as shown in The tang i5 has recesses or notches I 1 is piva hol- The tang the fully closed position, serves for locking the-blade in the fully open position.

(l leaf spring 20, secured between the plates Il, acts on the tang I5 to throw the blade I3 when means hereinabove described.

The device of the present invention, for checkjection 3| of position. 4By

2 and extending laterally, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. The spring 28 is attached to the remaining frame plate I I, and this is accomplished by the provision of a hole in the portion 30 which receives a rivet 32 also extending through said plate II to securely hold the spring 28 in place. The plate II which carries the spring 28 has a slot 33 therein which accommodates the spring 28 so that it may cooperate with the tang I5 of the blade. The tang I5 has a notch B therein, and this notch is cam-faced in order to properly cooperate With the projection 3| for the purpose of retaining the blade in the fully open position With the notch I8 in registry with the catch 2| enabling the latter to automatically enter the notch I8 to lock the blade I8 inthe fully open position.

The spring 28 and notch 34| constitute means in the nature of a snap action detent. The spring 28 causes the portion 3| to exert pressure lon the tang I5 in the opening movement of :the blade I3, and hence checks the movement of the blade as it approaches the limit of its opening movement. This prevents rebound of the blade I3 when back-square It strikes the end of the back l2. This will enable the catch 2| to be forced into the notch I8 in the tang by the spring 22, thereby locking the blade I3 in the fully open position. In accomplishing this result, the prothe spring 28 enters the notch 34 and, therefore, itself aids in retaining the blade I3 in the open position. The slide 24 being in the retracted position enables pressure to be exerted on the button 25 to disengage the catch 2| from the notch I8, whereupon the blade I3 may be swung into its closed position. The catch 2|, under the action of the spring 22, enters the notch I1 to hold the blade I3 locked in its closed manipulating thelug 26, the safety slide 24 may be engaged with vthe catch 2| to entering said notch `means on said prevent movement of the catch and unlocking of the blade, Whether in the open or closed position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there has been described a simple, practical and effective device for attaining the aforesaid objects of the invention.

I claim:

1. A pocket knife of the type Whose blade is automatically moved to open position when released and locked in both its open and closed position, having detent means to check and stop 'the movement of the blade in a manner to assure locking of the blade in the fully open position by the locking means.

2. Apocket knife as dened in claim 1, Wherein said means acts directly on the blade.

y3. A pocket knife as dened in claim 1, Whereinthe tang of the blade has a notch therein and said means has a portion Which acts on said tang uas the blade moves into its open position and enters said notch when the blade has reached the fully open position.

4. A Vpocket knife as dened in claim 1, Wherein said means consists of a leaf spring having a lateral projection, and the tang of the blade has a cam-faced notch therein, said'projection under the iniiuence of the spring acting on said tang as the blade moves into its open position and when the blade has reached the fully 'open position, said projection vbeing cammed out of said notch upon movement of the blade out of the open position after the blade has been released by said locking means.

5. In a pocket knife1 a spring opening blade, and a snap action detent consisting of a spring secured at one end and its other end having a substantially V-shape projection, and cam-'faced blade Which coacts with said projection to govern the movement of the blade.

JACOB LOUIS SCI-IRADE. 

